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Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …

Fossil fuels will provide the majority of our energy for a long time to come, but the issue of emissions has to be dealt with. The longer the chain of conversion from one energy form into another, the lower the energy efficiency. One extremely poor conversion is the production of electricity from fossil fuels that are then changed back into thermal energy. The energy efficiency of such a process can be as little as half that of heating with natural gas. As a result, carbon dioxide emissions are proportionately much higher.

The energy efficiency of converting super-heated steam or gas into electricity is influenced by temperature and pressure; the higher they are, the greater the efficiency. This means that plants using new technology – known as Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle systems – have a distinct advantage. Such systems have tremendous potential for reducing ‘waste’ energy and cutting emissions, which can be easily captured and stored (using carbon capture and storage – CCS – technology).

This is a likely scenario for fossil fuels in EU countries with coal deposits. In Poland, which has large reserves of coal and where the power industry is more than 90% dependent on the mineral, it is the only scenario. But there need to be more studies, construction of pilot installations for clean coal technologies (not just CCS) and modernisation of power plants.

The potential for renewable energy in Poland is not large, but it is worth developing. The Vistula river could house a dozen or so hydroelectric plants. Additionally, such investment would help the fight against global warming and avert the potential dangers because of the deterioration of the only dam in Wloclawek, in northern Poland.

The thermal power of modern heating and combined heat and power systems in the central and eastern parts of Europe should be better utilised with the product of thermal flux used for heating.

The revitalisation and modernisation of these systems would be a source of significant energy savings and decreased CO

2

EU members will ensure energy security only if their power industries are based on efficient and economical use of resources

emissions.

EU countries also possess unused energy flow capabilities, for example from south to north in the winter and in the opposite direction in the summer. What is needed is a reliable cross-border power network.

EU members will ensure energy security only if their power industries are based on efficient and economical use of resources now, and nuclear energy in the future.

Coal, crude oil and natural gas will also be better utilised than they are now – as valuable raw materials for the production of organic substances and construction materials.

However, the EU is planning to base its energy industry on natural gas while having insufficient resources (there are no appropriate pipelines), and to move away from coal, which is in abundance.

Polish Socialist MEP Adam Gierek is a member of the European Parliament’s committee on industry, research and energy.

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Three trends are currently driving the global electricity sector: decarbonization, decentralization and differentiation. Utilities are making significant contributions to mitigate carbon emissions, while a technology revolution is …